Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit, an image forming unit, and a color calibration processing unit. The image forming unit forms an image on an image forming medium using image forming color materials of a plurality of colors including CMY. The color calibration processing unit sets, in consideration of the integrated value of the product of the spectral transmittance and the spectral reflectance in the visible region of the reference document measured by the external colorimeter and the color material image formed using the image forming color materials on the image forming medium, a difference feature amount for bringing the color of the color material image closer to the color of the reference document by using the integrated value of the product of the spectral transmittance and the spectral reflectance in the visible region calculated from the XYZ values measured by the external colorimeter.

Abstract: The character edge area determining unit (21) determines a character edge area in input image data. The output image processing unit (12) performs an image process for a target pixel in the determined character edge area in order to adjust a toner consumption amount in accordance with the number of continuous edge pixels (i.e. continuous pixels that belong to the character edge area) included in a reference window of which a center is set on the target pixel and an average value of pixel values of the continuous edge pixels.

Abstract: The edge pixel determining unit (21) determines edge pixels in an input image, and the property determining unit (23) determines an edge pixel of a ruled-line edge among the determined edge pixels. The output image processing unit (12) performs predetermined image processing for the edge pixels so as to make a toner consumption amount of the edge pixel of the ruled-line edge smaller than a toner consumption amount of an edge pixel other than the edge pixel of the ruled-line edge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image area determining unit and an image processing unit. The image area determining unit is configured to determine a character edge area and a character inside area in an input image. The image processing unit is configured to be capable of performing (a) an inward expansion process for a pixel belonging to the image inside area, the character expansion process performed inwardly from the character edge area and (b) an outward expansion process for a pixel belonging to the character edge area, the outward expansion process performed outwardly from the character inside area. Further, the image processing unit selects the inward expansion process and/or the outward expansion process in accordance with an average brightness value of pixels belonging to the character inside area, and performs the selected the inward expansion process and/or the outward expansion process.

Abstract: The character edge area determining unit (21) determines a character edge area in input image data. The output image processing unit (12) performs an image process for a target pixel in the determined character edge area in order to adjust a toner consumption amount in accordance with the number of continuous edge pixels (i.e. continuous pixels that belong to the character edge area) included in a reference window of which a center is set on the target pixel and an average value of pixel values of the continuous edge pixels.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image area determining unit and an image processing unit. The image area determining unit is configured to determine a character edge area and a character inside area in an input image. The image processing unit is configured to be capable of performing (a) an inward expansion process for a pixel belonging to the image inside area, the character expansion process performed inwardly from the character edge area and (b) an outward expansion process for a pixel belonging to the character edge area, the outward expansion process performed outwardly from the character inside area. Further, the image processing unit selects the inward expansion process and/or the outward expansion process in accordance with an average brightness value of pixels belonging to the character inside area, and performs the selected the inward expansion process and/or the outward expansion process.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a single-color image reading circuit and a fluorescent color area extracting circuit. The single-color image reading circuit reads an image on a document to create single-color image data. The fluorescent color area extracting circuit extracts a fluorescent color area included in the single-color image data based on pixel values of respective pixels constituting the single-color image data created by the single-color image reading circuit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a single-color image reading circuit and a fluorescent color area extracting circuit. The single-color image reading circuit reads an image on a document to create single-color image data. The fluorescent color area extracting circuit extracts a fluorescent color area included in the single-color image data based on pixel values of respective pixels constituting the single-color image data created by the single-color image reading circuit.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a mode instruction information obtaining section, a color determination threshold storage section, a mode determination section, and an automatic color determination threshold adjustment section. The mode determination section, using a color determination threshold, determines a mode to be a color mode when the image data belongs to a color mode range, and determines the mode to be a monochrome mode when the image data belongs to a monochrome mode range. The automatic color determination threshold adjustment section adjusts the color determination threshold so as to widen a mode range corresponding to the mode determined by the mode determination section, when the mode indicated by the instruction information obtained by the mode instruction information obtaining section is different from the mode determined by the mode determination section.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a mode instruction information obtaining section, a color determination threshold storage section, a mode determination section, and an automatic color determination threshold adjustment section. The mode determination section, using a color determination threshold, determines a mode to be a color mode when the image data belongs to a color mode range, and determines the mode to be a monochrome mode when the image data belongs to a monochrome mode range. The automatic color determination threshold adjustment section adjusts the color determination threshold so as to widen a mode range corresponding to the mode determined by the mode determination section, when the mode indicated by the instruction information obtained by the mode instruction information obtaining section is different from the mode determined by the mode determination section.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a storing unit that stores image data of plural pages, an operating unit and a setting unit that sets the number of sheets used for N-up printing of the plural pages. A determining unit determines the number of pages aggregated on a single side of a single sheet when N-up printing is performed using the number of sheets set by the setting unit. An orientation selecting unit selects a paper orientation that lowers a reduction ratio of a page when N-up printing is performed on the number of pages determined by the determining unit. An image forming unit uses the image data stored in the storing unit to form images of the plural pages onto sheets according to the number of sheets set by the setting unit, the number of pages determined by the determining unit, and the selected paper orientation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a development device that includes a toner carrier which is disposed opposite to the image carrier, carries and supplies toner to the image carrier, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the image carrier; and a control means that performs a refresh process in which toner is ejected from the toner carrier to the image carrier in a time an image is not formed, and a toner ejection pattern which is formed by ejecting a line image a plurality of times that has an acute angle to a main scan direction at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the image carrier over a total width of a development region.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a storing unit that stores image data of plural pages, an operating unit and a setting unit that sets the number of sheets used for N-up printing of the plural pages. A determining unit determines the number of pages aggregated on a single side of a single sheet when N-up printing is performed using the number of sheets set by the setting unit. An orientation selecting unit selects a paper orientation that lowers a reduction ratio of a page when N-up printing is performed on the number of pages determined by the determining unit. An image forming unit uses the image data stored in the storing unit to form images of the plural pages onto sheets according to the number of sheets set by the setting unit, the number of pages determined by the determining unit, and the selected paper orientation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a development device that includes a toner carrier which is disposed opposite to the image carrier, carries and supplies toner to the image carrier, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the image carrier; and a control means that performs a refresh process in which toner is ejected from the toner carrier to the image carrier in a time an image is not formed, and a toner ejection pattern which is formed by ejecting a line image a plurality of times that has an acute angle to a main scan direction at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the image carrier over a total width of a development region.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container that accommodates toner particles, a developing roller that supplies the toner particles to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a stirring and transporting member that transports the toner particles inside the developing container toward the developing roller with stirring by rotating around a shaft axis. The stirring and transporting member includes a shaft portion serving as a rotation center and sheet-shaped first stirring blade and second stirring blade fixed to the shaft portion so as to extend outward in a radius direction from the shaft portion. The first stirring blade transports the toner particles in a first transportation direction. The second stirring blade transports the toner particles in a second transportation direction different from the first transportation direction.

Abstract: A low cost image forming apparatus can be provided in which the amount of remaining toner of each color in each development apparatus can be detected by a single detection sensor device and at the same time whether the development apparatus is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus can be discerned by the detection sensor device. The image forming apparatus includes development apparatuses for each color for developing an electrostatic latent image and supply of the developer is controlled based on the detected amount of toner in each of the development apparatuses. The detection sensor device includes a light emitting member and a light receiving member which receives the light emitted from the light emitting member and output a detection signal in accordance with the intensity of received light.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container that accommodates toner particles, a developing roller that supplies the toner particles to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a stirring and transporting member that transports the toner particles inside the developing container toward the developing roller with stirring by rotating around a shaft axis. The stirring and transporting member includes a shaft portion serving as a rotation center and sheet-shaped first stirring blade and second stirring blade fixed to the shaft portion so as to extend outward in a radius direction from the shaft portion. The first stirring blade transports the toner particles in a first transportation direction. The second stirring blade transports the toner particles in a second transportation direction different from the first transportation direction.

Abstract: A low cost image forming apparatus can be provided in which the amount of remaining toner of each color in each development apparatus can be detected by a single detection sensor device and at the same time whether the development apparatus is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus can be discerned by the detection sensor device. The image forming apparatus includes development apparatuses for each color for developing an electrostatic latent image and supply of the developer is controlled based on the detected amount of toner in each of the development apparatuses. The detection sensor device includes a light emitting member and a light receiving member which receives the light emitted from the light emitting member and output a detection signal in accordance with the intensity of received light.